Fred J. Eaglesmith is a national treasure, but disappointingly one whose unique singing and songwriting talents may be better known amongst his peers than many Canadians, save a legion of “Fredheads” like myself who have found him somewhere along a dusty, county road during his rather under-the-radar 40-year career.
Not unlike the Seinfeld episode where George and Jerry pitch a TV show about “nothing” – new research from Expedia reveals the typically over-scheduled end-of-year holiday season has prompted many Canadians to plan a “nothing-cation,” where only warm weather and relaxation are the main attractions.
Sunwing issued an official statement yesterday which was sent to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) after a meeting with the Travel Agency Leaders Advisory Group. The statement addressed the recent travel disruptions and impact on travel advisors, and outlined the company’s plan moving forward for the winter season.
Just how easy is it for Canadian travellers to get to Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas? Well, according to Jeremy Mutton, the resort’s General Manager, his guests can “have breakfast in Toronto and lunch in Great Exuma”. With Air Canada Vacations’ exclusive seasonal weekly direct service between Toronto and Great Exuma (with 51 connections across Canada) now through April 30, 2023, there’s no time like the present to recommend this stunning destination to your clients.
Berlin Airport cancelled all its flights Wednesday after ground staff went on strike to press their demands for higher pay. The walk-out affected about 300 flights to and from the German capital.
With over 700 islands and cays, The Bahamas offers something for everyone. For those clients seeking the perfect blend of seclusion and sophistication, the Exuma Cays definitely fit the bill. The Exumas are famous for their sapphire-blue waters – waters so spectacular that the vibrant colours are even visible from outer space. This chain of 365 islands is home to secluded beaches, isolated cays and luxurious resorts.
This year’s Global Tourism Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for travel professionals who wish to attend the event, taking place in North Bay, Ont. April 27-30.
Great golf starts in the Caribbean, where 132 professionals swung into The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, hosted January 15-18. This year’s PGA TOUR-sanctioned event marked the sixth year Sandals Resorts has hosted the Korn Ferry Tour Season Opener, the first stop for players competing for one of 30 coveted cards on “The Path to the PGA TOUR” in 2023.
FLIGHT Centre Travel Group (FLT) senior executive Greg Parker will succeed Melanie Waters-Ryan as the chief executive officer of the company’s global supply division. Parker, currently FLT’s managing director of global supply partnerships, and Waters-Ryan will continue to work closely to ensure a smooth transition when Waters-Ryan retires early in the 2024 fiscal year.
Just what is going on with the shortage of pilots in Canada? Federal officials assessing training programs have concluded major changes are needed to address the ever increasing problem. In fact, this is not just a Canadian issue. The US aviation industry is also dealing with a shortage of pilots and other workers, outdated technology, and strain on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which manages the nation’s airspace.
Uber drivers and their clients were targeted by disgruntled taxi drivers Monday in in Cancun and Mexico’s surrounding resort-studded Caribbean coast, prompting the US State Department to issue a travel advisory for the region.
Data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds a majority of Canadians supportive of testing requirements for travellers coming from China, but are nevertheless unsure if it will be effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in their country.
A US federal judge has ordered Boeing Co. to be arraigned on a felony charge stemming from crashes of two 737 Max jets, a ruling that threatens to unravel an agreement Boeing negotiated to avoid prosecution.
Through the end of April, G Adventures’ annual “G-Normous” incentive program will continue to give agents the chance to win with every trip they book. In addition to the $10,000 grand prize, trip giveaways, bonus commission, plus monthly and even weekly cash prizes totalling $75,000 will be awarded and all agents need to do is make bookings.
Travel is flying the flag for LGBT+ causes but more needs to be done, said an expert panel at the recent WTM London trade show, with participants urging the industry to take a stand.
Carnival Cruise Line’s annual ‘Amp Up Commission Challenge’ continues to off travel advisors the opportunity to qualify for higher commission rates in 2023. Through the program, agents will be able to increase their commissions up to 15 percent for the full 2023 year based on bookings made from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2023.
A major new report by World Travel & Tourism Council reveals a heightened appetite for sustainable tourism amongst consumers, with 69% of travellers actively seeking sustainable travel options.
Led by nearly 40% growth from the Canadian market, Jamaica is “leapfrogging” previous forecasts and on track to achieve 11% growth this year. Announced at the FITUR travel fair in Madrid, Spain, tourism minister Edmund Bartlett, declared: “Jamaica’s tourism is back!”
Over 400 visitors were stranded in Machu Picchu on Saturday when Peru’s government shut the famed ancient ruins indefinitely in the wake of anti-government protests that are increasingly engulfing the South American country.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada has kicked off its 2023 series of Tourism Town Halls. The coast-to-coast road show is designed give tourism stakeholders across the country an opportunity to meet with TIAC and its partners to better understand efforts on national and local tourism issues, and offers a forum for open dialogue, discussion, and constructive debate.
The Walt Disney Co. is turning 100 years old this year and the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Ca., which will be at the heart of celebrations, begins festivities this week (Jan. 27) across both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, featuring new décor, shows, and a much-anticipated new Mickey-themed attraction.
Porter Airlines is relaunching its VIPorter loyalty program with additional membership levels, added benefits, and the enhanced ability for economy travellers to earn perks. The upgrades coincide with Porter’s new Embraer E195-E2 jet service on Feb. 1.
The newly opened airport in Nepal where a Yeti Airlines plane was attempting to land when it crashed Jan. 15 killing all 72 on board, did not have a functioning instrument landing system that guides planes to the runway, according to an official. Aviation safety experts said it reflects the Himalayan country’s poor air safety record, although the cause of the accident has not been determined.
Consumers should help fund Ontario’s Compensation Fund, says the Canadian Association of Tour Operators, echoing long-held views by the retail industry that its members should not be solely responsible for mandatory consumer protection against supplier failure in the province, and equally that the Fund is insufficient to meet current needs.
Jamaica or Jupiter, Mexico or the moon? Travel sellers may one day have more options to offer clients as Canada begins the process of expanding its commercial space launch capabilities.
VisitBritain will welcome more than 120 travel trade buyers from 16 international markets – including Canada ¬– starting this week for a series of educational visits across Britain. The three-to-five-day itineraries across the UK are designed to showcase that Britain is “packed full of fresh and exciting experiences for visitors to come and enjoy right now.”
The magic of Hong Kong was on display, literally, at an industry gala in Toronto late last week as the city’s tourist board, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, celebrated Chinese New Year with food, music, traditional dragon dancers, prizes, and, uniquely, a performance by an actual magician flown in from Hong Kong.
Canadian and US border agencies say they have a plan to reduce the backlog for the beleaguered NEXUS trusted-traveller program, although significant improvements are not expected until spring. Here’s what you need to know:
German airline Lufthansa said it has submitted an offer for a minority stake in Italy’s ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia. The Italian finance ministry said in a statement that the Lufthansa offer was the only one submitted by the Jan. 17 deadline.
In last week’s news, the WHO urged a return to masks; Mexico told tourists to butt out; an Icelandic airline made moves in Canada; the UN predicted that tourism is back – nearly; and the next year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held in Barbados in May. NEWS The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging